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France to evacuate nationals from Libya

A building after clashes between rival militias in an area at Alswani road in TripoliReuters/Hani Amara

France is to evacuate its nationals from Libya as fighting between rival militias plunges the country into chaos, a government source said Tuesday. The evacuation will take place by sea.

The foreign affairs ministry on Monday asked the fewer than 100 French citizens in Libya to leave, advising them to contact the embassy as quickly as possible, “considering the worsening security situation in the country”.

On Tuesday a governmental source told the AFP news agency that measures are under way to get them out, adding that it would be by sea.

The logistics were to be finalised during the afternoon, the source said.

President François Hollande joined US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and UK Prime Minister David Cameron in calling on the UN to play more of a role in trying to end the latest Libyan crisis.

They condemned attacks on civilians and intimidation of state representatives and called for an immediate ceasefire between militias fighting in the capital, Tripoli.

As the violence escalated and a British diplomatic convoy was shot at, the US pulled out its diplomats on Sunday and several countries advised nationals to leave.